What Makes Mastodon Different From Twitter/X

[kevin1]

Mastodon often gets described as a “Twitter alternative,” but that label barely scratches the surface. Unlike platforms owned by a single company — such as X — Mastodon is a nonprofit, open-source project built around decentralization. Instead of one central platform, it operates as a network of independently run servers (“instances”) that can all communicate with each other.

This structure gives users more control over moderation, community norms, and discovery. Each server sets its own rules, but users can still interact across servers, much like sending emails between Gmail and Outlook. The result is a social network that feels less like a global broadcast stage and more like a collection of interconnected communities.